COLOMBO - SRI Lanka's central bank on Monday placed a troubled private bank in state custody, saying the move was aimed at preventing a collapse of the country's entire financial sector.
NEW YORK - WALL Street was little changed in early trading on Monday as crude prices rose on concerns that Israel's attack on Gaza might disrupt oil production and shipments from the Middle East.
LONDON - THE British pound fell to a record low against the euro on Monday, flirting with one pound per euro as two gloomy economic forecasts stoked expectations that the Bank of England will make further interest rate cuts next year.
BERLIN - THE German government will decide by mid-January on a second stimulus plan aimed at providing another shot in the arm to Germany's ailing economy, Europe's largest, a spokesman said Monday.
